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The Avila Perspective Chap. 21: Spence vs. Garcia, Diego De La Hoya and More
After weeks of dilly dallying Premier Boxing Championship unveiled its Fox network schedule for the upcoming six months including the blockbuster announcement that Mikey Garcia (pictured at yesterday’s confab with Lennox Lewis) will challenge IBF welterweight kingpin Errol Spence Jr.
It doesn’t get bigger than that.
A press conference at Fox Television headquarters in Century City on Tuesday saw two dozen of PBC’s top fighters gathered to speak to reporters about their upcoming clashes to be televised on Fox and its affiliates beginning in December through April 2019.
Included in the announced array of top prizefighters are Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, Leo Santa Cruz, and the brothers Jermell and Jermall Charlo opening up the Fox fight series on December 22 in Brooklyn, New York.
But the fight that has been resonating since last July, when Garcia publicly announced he wanted to fight Spence, has finally sprouted wings and now takes place on March 16, in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium.
“I just want to get the biggest fights available and make the biggest splash,” said Garcia, 30, who has won world titles in four weight divisions.
Spence, who is world champion at a weight category two weight divisions heavier than Garcia, welcomes the challenge. Both he and Garcia are considered by many among the top 10 prizefighters pound for pound in the world.
“It’s a dream come true. I have a lot of fans and he has a lot of fans too,” said Spence.
Their clash will be shown on Fox pay-per-view. It’s the crown jewel of all the planned matchups planned by PBC. It’s one of the best possible fights to be made in 2019.
One other fight that looks interesting is Jose Uzcategui defending the interim IBF super middleweight title against Caleb Plant on January 13, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
It was a masterful move to announce the upcoming schedule to the media for the next five months. It allows fans the opportunity to plan their way around the fight scene that grows bigger every year. This upcoming year will be bigger than the world has ever seen before.
With Fox, Showtime, ESPN and DAZN all jumping in with hundreds of millions of dollars into the boxing pot, the world of prizefighting is booming.
De La Hoya in Mexicali
Undefeated Diego De La Hoya (20-0) defends the NABF super bantamweight title against Venezuela’s Edixon Perez (17-2) on Saturday Nov. 17, at Mexicali, Mexico. It’s the first time he’s fought as a professional in his hometown. It will be televised on Azteca TV.
“This fight is good for him because he hasn’t fought in Mexico. This is a great opportunity for the fans in Mexico to get to see him. Millions will be tuning in. that’s great exposure for him in Mexico,” said Joel De La Hoya who manages Diego De La Hoya. “You want that Mexican fan base behind you as well.”
Diego De La Hoya, 24, has been fighting professionally for five years now. Ever since he first stepped into the prize ring big things have been expected from the cousin of Oscar De La Hoya the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. Generally, he’s delivered.
In his last two fights Diego De La Hoya defeated two former world champions. This past June the Mexicali fighter stopped Jose Salgado in the seventh round in a fight that took place in upstate New York. Before that, he handed talented Randy Caballero his first defeat as a professional.
Golden Boy has carefully plotted his career though at times it seemed he was bored with fighting lesser talent.
“He was still in his second year when big fights were offered. We kind of held off to give him more time to mature. He’s got the skillset,” said Joel De La Hoya, brother of Oscar De La Hoya. “Once you win the world title you can’t take any more soft touches. That’s not the way we grew up, me and my brother.”
Though world title fights were offered the De La Hoya’s declined. But now the team feels ready to move to the next step after this fight.
“This is more of a stay busy fight, but anytime someone faces a De La Hoya they’re going to come with everything against the De La Hoya name,” said Joel De La Hoya. “But after this, we’re going to be pushing for a shot at the world title.”
The 122-pound limit super bantamweight division is blue hot with talent. It hasn’t been this loaded since guys like Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez, Jhonny Gonzalez and Oscar Larios were menacing the division and fighting each other from 2004 to 2010.
Today, the super bantamweight division is ripe with talent especially in Southern California where WBA super bantamweight titlist Danny Roman lives. It’s a match that can easily be made. Others holding belts are Mexico’s Rey Vargas with the WBC title, Isaac Dogboe the WBO titlist, and Australia’s TJ Doheny the IBF titleholder. It’s a very talented weight division and one that De La Hoya fits into nicely.
“It’s hot right now for the super bantamweights. We’re excited. You have Danny Roman who has a world title and is a candidate for Fighter of the Year,” said Joel De La Hoya. “You also have Dogboe. We’re slowly but surely going to see them cancel each other off. They are very do-able fights considering Diego is ranked in the top 10 in each of those organizations.”
But first, this Saturday his hometown fans and fellow countrymen get an opportunity to see him perform before certain world title challenges.
“Once you fight for a world title there is no turning back,” De La Hoya said. “But Diego has a high boxing IQ.”
Thompson Boxing card
Texas bred Michael Dutchover (11-0, 8 KOs) meets veteran Daulis Prescott in the super featherweight main event on Friday Nov. 16, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.
Dutchover, 20, is one of many talented Texans who are moving into Southern California to find more opportunity and preparation. He was signed by Thompson Boxing Promotions more than a year ago and is one of several top prospects moving up the ranks quickly.
“I’ve (sparred) with some of the top names in the sport and they teach me something different,” Dutchover said. “Danny Roman, Oscar Valdez, Jessie Magdaleno are a few that come to mind.”
The Thompson Boxing fight card will be streamed live on their Facebook page beginning at Friday 8 p.m. PT.
Fights to watch via streaming or TV
Fri. 3:30 p.m. PT/ 6:30 p.m. ET – Egidijus Kavaliauskas (20-0) vs. Roberto Arriaza (17-0) on ESPN3.
Fri. 9:00 p.m. PT/ midnight ET – Maurice Hooker (24-0-3) vs. Alex Saucedo (28-0) on ESPN.
Fri. 3:30 p.m. PT/ 6:30 p.m. ET – Branden Pizarro (12-1) vs. Gadwin Rosa (8-0) and several other bouts at: https://www.facebook.com/FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE/
Fri. 9:35 p.m. ET/PT – Jaron Innis (21-0) vs. Raymond Serrano (24-5) on Showtime television.
Sat. 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET – Jarrell Miller (22-0-1) vs. Bogdan Dinu (18-0); Claressa Shields (6-0) vs. Hannah Rankin (5-2) on DAZN.
Sat. 8 p.m. PT – Diego De La Hoya (20-0) vs Edixon Perez (17-2) on Azteca TV.
Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More
Those lightweights.
Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.
Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.
DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.
Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.
“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.
Even in Las Vegas.
Verona, New York
Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.
Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.
“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.
Foster disagrees.
“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.
Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).
Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.
“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.
Muratalla likes challenges too.
“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.
Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship
WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.
Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.
But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.
“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.
In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.
Bad choice for Mucino.
Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.
Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.
Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.
Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.
“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.
It should be exciting.
Fights to Watch
Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).
Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).
Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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Bakhram Murtalaziev was the Fighter of the Month in October
As we close the book on October, let’s look back at the month’s stellar performances. Kenshiro Teraji added another exclamation point to his brilliant career with an 11th-round stoppage of Cristofer Rosales. England’s Jack Catterall, considered no more than a decent domestic-level talent for most of his career, showed that he had been underrated with a comprehensive 12-round decision over declining Regis Prograis. But the top performance, by a landslide, was delivered by Bakhram Murtalaziev who annihilated Tim Tszyu on Oct. 19 in Orlando, Florida.
Murtalaziev was undefeated (22-0, 16 KOs) and the reigning IBF junior middleweight champion, but he was the underdog and the “B” side. As champions go, and there are roughly five dozen across the 17 weight divisions, the California-based Russian ranked among the least well-known. He had won his title in Berlin with an 11th-round stoppage of an unexceptional 38-year-old German-Ecuadorian campaigner, Jack Culcay, and he would be making his first defense.
Managed by Egis Klimas who also handles Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, among others, Bakhram Murtalaziev came from a good barn in the vernacular of a horseplayer, but on paper that alone was insufficient to get him over the hump against Tim Tszyu who a few short months earlier was widely considered the best 154-pound boxer in the world.
That was before he met up with Sebastian Fundora who blemished his record, but that setback could have been written off as a fluke.
As we recall, Tszyu was scheduled to fight Keith Thurman in the initial PBC offering on Amazon Prime Video, but Thurman suffered a biceps injury in training and Fundora was bumped up from the undercard to fill the breach. With only 12 days’ notice, Tim Tszyu went from fighting a five-foot-seven fighter who fights out of an orthodox stance to fighting a southpaw who stood almost a full foot taller. The “Towering Inferno” has his limitations, but poses a special problem to anyone, let alone an opponent with little time to formulate a good game plan.
Tszyu was hampered in the Fundora fight by a gash on his hairline that hampered his vision. The injury happened in the second round when he ducked under Fundora and walked into an elbow. The gash bled copiously throughout the fight and yet the best that Fundora could do was win a split (albeit fair) decision.
To say that Tszyu failed to rebound from the Fundora misadventure would be putting it mildly. Murtalaziev steamrolled him, knocking him to the canvas four times in all before Tszyu’s corner tossed in the towel at the 1:55 mark of the third stanza. It was painful to watch. Referee Chris Young was faulted for allowing the match to continue as long as it did. Compounding Tszyu’s misery, his celebrated father, a first ballot Hall of Famer, was ringside. Kostya Tszyu hadn’t seen his oldest son fight in the flesh since Tim’s pro debut in 2016.
Although the dichotomy is imperfect, Tim Tszyu, who turns 30 on Saturday, is more of a puncher than a boxer. That may work against him so far as clawing his way back to a position of prominence. The noted boxing coach Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, a keen student of the history of boxing in the modern era, expressed this sentiment in a Q and A story for Boxing Scene. “Destructive fighters usually don’t come back to full capacity after bad KO losses,” he said, citing John Mugabi, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, and Naseem Hamed to illustrate his point. Moreover, added Edwards, “No one will ever be afraid of him again.”
But there were two stories that emerged from the Murtalaziev-Tszyu fight. Tim Tszyu crashed, but Bakhram Murtalaziev emerged from obscurity, announcing his presence (pardon the cliché) as a force to be reckoned with. As for his next assignment, the best guess is that it will come against Sebastian Fundora or Errol Spence Jr. who are expected to meet early next year. And based on Murtalaziev’s stunning performance in Orlando, it will be impossible to bet against him.
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Foreman-Moorer: 30 Years Later
Foreman-Moorer: 30 Years Later
By TSS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT JAMIE REBNER — In sports, middle-aged athletes are not supposed to beat opponents who are half their age and in their athletic primes. Only the greatest ones can use guile, technique, and experience to compensate for the dulling of speed, reflexes, and athleticism that have unavoidably eroded with time.
That is why George Foreman’s feat of reclaiming the heavyweight title at 45 is so impressive. It was thirty years ago this coming Tuesday, Nov 5, 1994, that Foreman scored a monumental upset in knocking out Michael Moorer to win back the title he had lost twenty years prior against Muhammad Ali in The Rumble in the Jungle. In doing so, Big George became the oldest heavyweight champion, breaking the record previously held by Jersey Joe Walcott, who had won the title at 38.
When Foreman beat Moorer, he was in the twilight of his second career, a comeback that began in 1987. George had retired in 1977 after losing to Jimmy Young and experiencing a spiritual awakening in his locker room. That led him to become a minister and devote himself to his family and congregation. During his retirement, he opened a youth center in Houston, which required much financial support, prompting him to return to the ring.
After winning 24 straight fights from 1987-1990, Foreman lost his first title shot by decision to Evander Holyfield in 1991. He rebounded from that loss with three more wins before getting a crack at the WBO title against Tommy Morrison in 1993. But his performance against Morrison was disappointing and he lost another decision. After that, Foreman was out of the ring for 17 months before he was gifted another title shot against Moorer.
Foreman got that gift because Moorer, due to his sullen demeanor and curtness with the media, was not a draw with the fans. He was also an unproven champion, having beaten Holyfield for two belts only seven months prior. So. Moorer needed a name opponent who could bring in the crowds for his first title defense. And the other top heavyweights like Oliver McCall (WBC champ), Lennox Lewis, and Riddick Bowe didn’t have close to Foreman’s drawing power. So. deserving or not, Foreman was chosen as the challenger to make a fight that would be worth the public’s attention and pockets.
Even Foreman was surprised by getting selected to fight Moorer. “I never in my wildest imagination thought I’d get a title shot again,” he told Associated Press sports columnist Tim Dahlberg. Still, George was determined to make his third time a charm.
But as motivated as George was, there was an irrefutable gap in speed between himself and the much younger champion. From the opening bell, Moorer used his superior quickness and reflexes to make Foreman look stiff and slow. And although George landed punches early on, he fired them one at a time while Moorer countered with multiple shots. But despite Moorer’s advantage in connects, his trainer Teddy Atlas advised him from the get-go not to stand in front of Foreman and make himself a stationary target for a right-hand bomb.
But Moorer failed to heed that advice as he continued to outwork Foreman in the middle rounds. Although he was winning, Moorer’s overconfidence kept him at close quarters, and he continued to circle unwisely to his left and into Foreman’s dangerous right hand. And despite absorbing many quality shots, Foreman never appeared hurt or discouraged thanks to his granite chin and unyielding resolve. He was determined to win and he was willing to walk through as many flush shots as he needed to do so.
With Moorer content to stay in range, Foreman gladly returned his firepower and he landed some telling right crosses, uppercuts, and plenty of thudding body blows during the battle. And while Moorer continued to pile up points and rounds, as long as George was marching forward and throwing shots, he had a puncher’s chance.
And with a minute to go in round ten, that punch came. After missing a three-punch combination, Foreman scored with a one-two, with the right hand landing on the forehead. He immediately repeated that combination but this time aimed the right hand lower on Moorer’s jaw. That slight adjustment caused his bulldozer right to collide perfectly with Moorer’s chin, sending the champion crashing to the canvas and sprawled onto his back. The champion couldn’t beat the count, and just like that, the fight was over, Moorer’s short-lived title run ending before it ever truly began.
With a single, shattering blow, Foreman etched his name into boxing history. Wearing the same trunks from Zaire 20 years before, he was now heavyweight champion of the world once again. It was a shocking result that defied conventional wisdom since seldom do 45-year-old boxers score knockouts over champions in their athletic primes. But Foreman reminded us that he was anything but your typical quadragenarian. He was special, and he had two distinct heavyweight championship reigns to prove it.
—
About the author:
Jamie Rebner lives in Toronto, Canada. He has been a freelance boxing writer since 2016 and his writing has appeared in The Fight City, Boxing News Online, The Ring, and Ringside Seat magazine. His Substack blog is Fight Fundamental, and he is currently writing a book about George Foreman’s comeback. He is also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @J_NReb.
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